Child&#39;s vehicle



F. L. MARTIN CHILDS VEHICLE July 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1947 1 71; .zm'mzm INVENTOR ATTORNEYS F. L. MARTIN CHILDS VEHICLE July 4, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1947 7 4m 1L5 .ZZaWZz'm INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

y 950 v F. MARTIN 2,513,661

CHILDS VEHICLE s Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 25, 1947 vagmx Q 4.2 f

IZJIIQWZZE INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented July 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHILD'S VEHICLE Floyd Leonard Martin, Berlin, Wis.

Application June 25, 1947, Serial No. 756,909

This invention relates to toys or amusement devices in the form of a childs vehicle, the primary object of the invention being to provide a vehicle embodying rear-supporting wheels and a frontsupporting wheel, the rear-supporting wheels providing a mounting for a vehicle body, while the front wheel provides a support for the forward end of the vehicle which is in the form of a head and legs, of an. animal, such as a horse, the head of the front portion of the vehicle being so mounted that it may be turned by the occupant of the vehicle, simulating the movement of an animals head.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for supporting'the front wheel of the vehicle in such a way that rearward movement of the wheel will be cushioned, when the wheel meets an obstruction in the surface over which it is moved, thereby relieving the front portion and support for the wheel, of undue strain.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for moving the front. wheel of the vehicle, by the movements of the headof the forward section of the vehicle which is constructed to simulate an animal, the front wheel being so mounted that it will automatically move to its normal or straight position, when the reins which are connected with the head, are released.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that the changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is .a side elevational view of a childs vehicle, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2. Y

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 Of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line'5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 indicates a rectangular frame to which the body-6 is connected, the body being provided with a seat portion 1 arranged therein, the forward portion of the body being cut away to provide openings whereby the child using the vehicle, may easily enter the body portion.

The side rails of'the frame 5 are formed with elongated openings in which the axle 8 is mounted, the openings being indicated by the reference character ll. These openings are elongated vertically, so that the axle 8 may move Vertically when the wheels [0 mounted on the ends 4 Claims. (Cl; 2801.202)

of the axle and secured thereto to rotate with the axle, move over obstructions in the surface over which the device is operating.

The axle 8 is mounted in the forward ends of the pivoted bearings II which are connected with the side rails of the frame 5, as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawings, the rear ends of the bearings I I being tapered and fitted between the inner ends of the coiled springs 12 secured'to the blocks l3, that in turn are secured to the side rails of the rectangular frame 5. Thus, it will be seen that due to this construction, I have provided a spring suspension for the body of the vehicle which will absorb shocks for the comfort of the child using the vehicle.

The axle 8 is formed with cranks I4 to which the links l5 are connected, the links I5 being also connected to the pedal cranks l6 that are mount-- ed in bearings H at the front end of the rectangular frame.

' Directly above the pedal cranks I6, is a plate I8 that is hingedly connected to the body and held normally in its upward position by means of the clip l9. This plate provides a foot rest for the feet of the child using the vehicle, when the child is not using the pedals for propulsion. With the plate swung downwardly to the dotted line position, the child not only has 'a foot rest, but his feet are guarded against injury by movement of the pedals.

The reference character 20 indicates the front portion of the'vehicle, which is constructed to simulate the head, shoulders and front legs of a horse, the front portion of the vehicle being secured to the body of the vehicle, by means of the screws 2 I.

The forward portion of the vehicle is further braced by means of the metal strap material 22 that is secured to the forward portion of the vehicle, the rear ends thereof being connected to the forward portion of the body, the metal strap material being constructed to simulate thills. The brace 23 also extends forwardly from the body portion and'connects with the front portion of the vehicle, at the portion thereof simulating the legs of the horse, as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawings.

The front portion of the vehicle is cut away near the upper front edge thereof, and thiscutaway portion is provided with a bearing plate 24 which has forwardly extended ends 25 and 26, the end 25 being provided with an opening to receive the rod 21, which is pivotally held therein, the opening being sufficiently large to permit slight pivotal movement of the rod, The end 26 of the bearing plate 24 is provided with an elongated opening 28 in which the rod 27 operates, the elongated opening 28 permitting of rearward movement of the rod 21, to be hereinafter more fully described.

This rod extends through the vertical .bore 2 formed in the front portion of the vehic1e,..the

bore 29 being of a diameter appreciably larger than the diameter of the rod 21, so that movement 1 of the rod within the bore will be'permi-tted;

At the lower end of the front: portion. of the vehicle, or the legs 30, is a plate 3| that is formed with a downwardly extended enlargement 32, theaf'f enlargement 32 resting in the depression. 3.3.. formed in the upper end of the forks 34 in which" The rod. 21;.eXte dS;

through the depression 33 andis provided with a 10,

movable'trans/versely of the bore, a spring dis- It might be further stated that therro dthe front wheel 35 operates.

head, securing the lower endof'the'rodtdthe' forks 34. 21 extends through the elongated opening 35 of theplatefi 1., to the end thatrearward movement ofjthe rodwithlrespect tofthe plate 3| is permitted, 15

when the Wheel 35 of the' vehicle, strikes anobstruction in the; surface over which it is moving. An opening 3'l .is.f ormed in theflower portion of the front, portion of the. vehicle; and accommodates the. spring 38, which spring rests. against 2 the rod 21,. and normally urges the rod forwardly w i thirruthe. bore 29.1 Due to .this construction; it i will be obvious that when therod 2! and Wheel 35 move-rearwardly under the impact of, striking. L

an obstructiorrsuch' as a curb or'the like, the.

coiled spring 38 will act toreturnthe rod'to. its

normal position and at the same tlmecuShiOn. the movements of, the front wheel.

plate fill which plate has .a rearwardly extended end fll. formed with an opening through which the rod 21 extends. Adjacent to the upper. end of.

athreaded opening to accommodate the set screw 43 thatengageswithin an opening in the rod 27 and securesthe head section to the rod 2Tin' such away that under normal conditions, when. the:

head section 39 is turned to. the right or left, the rodZTwill also be turned, to guide the wheel 35.

when the head. is mov'edfto the right or left,

andfthelwheel 35 turns, the enlargement. 3"2will move out of the depression 33; setting up, a slight binding. action.- As the head is returnedto it's' normaljposition, the enlargement 32'wi11lfa-gain. seat within th'e depression 33' and. normally hold the head! andrwheelpina straightforwardili'ne'I The. head section-.'33..i's turned "bymean sld ffthe reins fl l'th'at connect with the head; .tne,rems; beingheld in.the guides l5-that riseflfrom the dashboarddBLoithevehicle,

From theforegoing it willbe seenl that a e t die lfthe sea ma e at th p da s P QDe .et 3Y QI a su fac owever hould it be desired t lp llthe d vice, the-iQQ rest I 8: may, be swungrdownwardly and theereins;

disconnectedefromlthe membersr45; Thedeyicemay now be pulledtby the reins'if desiredi.

What is claimed is :1.

1. A vehicle of the classdescribed;comprise y in -the bore,. a bearing plate mounted at the upper end of -the bore, said bearing plate having an -opening inwhich one end ';.ofthe= rod is rotatably mounted,. the opposite endeof. said rod extending below thenbody, a wheel fork, secured to. thezlowen end. of the .rod below; the tbodyand being movable with said rod, a headrconnectedi to the .rod Land rotating said5.ro.d.:as,.;the;jhead i rotated,..- and'..lyieldable.:meansamounted Within.

" the plates cooperating steering rod of a diameter substantially less I "than the diameter of the bore, mounted within .1 the.cxbore,..means for pivotally connecting the upper, end of the rod to the body, said rod being posed'xwithin the bore and engaging the rod, normally urging the rod against the wall of the bore; restricting rearward-movement. of.,the rod, aqforkeand. wheellsecured to. the lower end. of. therod and :bein'g movabletherewith, andfmeans secured, at theelower... end of .Y the. forward end oitheabody and. cooperating. withthe .fork, preventing. r-ota-rwmoyementbf. the-fork with. re-.

spect to the body, under. normalLcondi'tions.

3. A vehicle of. the,.class.-descri:bed,. compris-. ing, agwheel-supported. body, the lforward portion .o f rthebody havinga substantiall'yi vertical bore, a.steering;rod..-extendihg through the bore, means for pivotally. connecting-the upper end of said rod to the body, said rod being of a diameter substantially, less thanthe diameter H V of the bore and being movable transversely. The front portion of. the vehicle includes the head 39 to theinner. side thereof is attached the 3 within the bore a. headsecured tothe rod by. means-of whichfltherrod. is rotated, a. fork and. wheel securedflto, theldwerendjof j..the rod. rotat ing with. said. rod a spring, mounted within the H H I forward portion ofthebod'y and bearing against the'head 39 is a bracket 42 which is formed with the lower.v endlof therodfnorrnally urging the lowerend 0f the ,rod forwardly, and cooperating means on. the body. and fo"rk,. normally restricting rotary movement of the rod and'fork with respect to. the forward. portion offlthe body of the vehicle. I

4. Avehicle..,.ofe'the..class described comprising a wheelsupported'l'body, the forward portion of thehody haying-a substantially vertical'bore,

a...st'eering, rod.;mounted .'within,the bore; said. rod.;being .offla diameteruappreciably lessthan the. diameter. of. the-.bore and, beih'gmovable rearwardlywithin the. bore, ,thelupper endof the rod. being. pivotally.,.connec.ted to the body, a stationary.- .platerhavirig ant ofi'set portion; se-.

jacent to the lower end-foisaid'rod a plate having an ofiset portion fitted mtne offStportlon of the adjacent plate andiibeing secured tothe rod'tm rotate gtherewith, the. offs'et portions of movement .of, .the. -fork .and, wheel with respect to the'body, a head section secured to the steer: ing ,rod, bymeans. of which. the steering. rod is operated and yiel'dabl'e meansfdisposed; within the lower end, of A the bore, lengaging' .said'jro'd," limiting "rearward movement of "the irod',j fork and'wheeL,

' 'FLOYDLEONARD ahFER NeEs *orrnn fileefo f.thispatent I v H UNfi-TEDT; STA'IEES PATENTS The iollowingreferences. are of -record indahe Number- 0' Name" u Date- 1'693742' 'Webster et. ali:" Nov; 9; 1875 77917091" v 1HdStI'Omff f J an; 10,"'1905 1,169,331; Co'ttonnr, Jan: 25;;19'1'6 0,801" Schr'rver June-19, -l91-7 1,6{league .erest et New- 2231927 in restricting rotary' 

